Despite a plague of setbacks that have left the ISU women’s gymnastics team battered and bruised, the ninth-ranked Cyclones put forth a second-place performance at the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational in Corvallis, Ore.

The Cyclones narrowly fell to No. 11 Oregon State 195.525-195.100 but topped No. 22 Washington (194.500) and California-Davis (191.500).

“I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” said head coach K.J. Kindler. “We walked in [to the meet] with only half of the troops.”

Ten minutes before the team was set to leave for Oregon, doctors diagnosed senior Abigail Richey with influenza, pulling her out of the lineup on balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise. Richey was set to compete on the floor and bars to cover for all arounder Jade Kvach, who suffered a season-ending tear to the ulnar collateral ligament in her elbow last week. Even sophomore Emily Rinaldo, who trains as an alternate on bars, was forced to stay home with a sprained elbow.

Team co-captain Kacey Oiness, who is a staple in the Cyclone’s floor lineup, stepped in on bars and beam, while freshman Lindsay Murphy returned to the Cyclones vault lineup and saw action for the first time on the floor and bars. Sophomore Rachel Parker rounded out the list of lineup changes, posting a solid score on floor in her second-ever competition.

With five of the Cyclones’ routines performed by alternates, Kindler said it felt like the team was back at the beginning of the season, with the alternates competing for the first time and having to learn how to face the pressures of competition on demand.

“This team needs them more than they can ever imagine,” Kindler said. “I think they felt that pressure at the meet and were able handle it quite well.”

The Cyclones started with a shaky performance on beam, leaving them in third place after the first rotation. Switching momentum, the team posted its top scores on the floor and vault, winning both events as a team (49.075 and 49.00, respectively) to overcome the Huskies for second place and challenge the Beavers for first. The team finished strong on bars, but was unable to overcome the Beavers’ lead.

“I think we did really well with the obstacles that we had been dealt,” said sophomore Janet Anson. “We knew what we needed to do … we had to go all out.”

Anson led the Cyclone charge, winning the all-around (39.325) and floor (9.00) titles and taking second on vault (9.90). Following Anson was junior Laura-Kay Powell, who finished second in the all-around (39.10).

The only other Cyclone to reach the individual podium was junior Erin Dethloff, who tied for third place on floor with Oregon State’s Heather Justus. Dethloff finished fourth in the all-around competition (38.35) and narrowly missed the podium because of an uncharacteristic fall on bars.

Several Cyclones fought through painful injuries to help the team’s finish. Sophomore Katie Lasher hyperextended her knee during the vault competition but completed her bars routine later in the evening. Sophomore Ashley Alden returned at half-strength to competition after sitting out last week due to a hamstring injury.

The Cyclones have a week to rehab their injuries and polish their newest routines before heading to Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday to take on No. 1 Nebraska. Iowa State is now 11-2 (2-0) and hopes to repeat last month’s victory over the Huskers.